Coin-controlled apparatus



(No Model.)

J. E. NEISWANGER. COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

No. 423,073. Patented Mar. 11, 1890.

WWJO) VJ m/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH E. NElSl/VANGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COIN-CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,073, dated March 11, 1890.

Application filed September 23, 1889. Serial No. 324,761. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E. NEISWAN- GER, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Coin- Controlled Apparatus, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My present invention, while applicable in part to a variety of purposes, is designed more especially for use in connection with a receptacle or holder for opera-glasses, so that such glasses may be let for hire without the need of an attendant.

My invention consists in various novel features of construction hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a front perspective View of an opera-glass holder having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation, the front plate of the upper portion of the apparatus being removed for better illustration. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the parts in different position and showing the receptacle open. Fig. 4 isa detail view in elevation, the back plate of the attachment to the holder being removed.

A designates the back plate of that portion of the apparatus which, in this instance, constitutes the receptacle for the opei'aglass, this back plate A being preferably provided with upturned flanges a, to which will be connected the side plates B of the receptacle. The outer edges of these side plates B are provided with the inwardly-proj ecting flanges b, and at a slight distance back of these flanges is affixed to the side plates the faceplate C, which extends across the front of the holder, and serves not merely to permanently close the lower portion thereof, but acts also in conjunction with the flanges b to receive and guide between them the movable flexible cover D. Guides parallel with the flanges b and set back therefrom at the upper portion of the receptacle on curve line, in continuation with that of the curved face plate O, serve, with flanges h, to constitute ways for the travel and guidance of cover D in shifting the same to open or close the receptacle. In the construction shown this cover D is formed of a series of bars having holes in their ends and united by staples 55, the arms of each staple beinginserted into the ends of the adjoining bars in order to hold these bars together and at the same time permit. their yielding in lateral direction in such manner as to give flexibility to the cover.

hen the receptacle is to be opened, it is only necessary to slide the cover D in downward direction along the grooves or guideways, which can be readily done by grasping a suitable lug or handle 4, that will be fixed to the upper portion of the'cover.

The upper portion of the cover, as shown, is provided with suitable seats 5 to receive the ends 6 and 7 of the locking-bolts F and F, whereby the cover will be locked when the opera-glasses are not in use, the ends of these bolt-s being preferably beveled and passing through suitable slots formed for the purpose in the transverse ledge A, that extends across the top of the receptacle and through the bottom ledge 8 of the casing, wherein the bolts F and F and the mechanism for operating these bolts will be retained.

The casing wherein the bolts and operating mechanism are contained consists, preferably, of a side or ledge plate 10, a back plate, a central plate or diaphragm 12, and a front plate. Between the front plate and the diaphragm 12 is located the bolt F, this belt being sustained upon a pivot 1i and having its end 6 pressed normally downward to engage with the cover D by means of a spring 15, that is secured, as at 16, to a lug progeeting from the diaphragm 12. The bolt F is lo cated between the diaphragm l2 and the back plate and is sustained upon the pivot 17,the inner end of this belt F being slotted to receive a pin 19, that projects through the diaphragm from the inner end of the bolt F.

The outer or free end of the bolt F is extended through an opening 20 in the dia phragm, and is downwardly bent to form the end 7, that engages with the cover D and is forced downward by the spring W, sustained by stud from the diaphragm 12.

Conveniently mounted upon the pivot-pin 19 is the releasing pawl or dog H, the lower end of which extends slightly beyond the inner end of the bolt-lever F, in position to be struck by the edge of the coin q as the same descends from the delivery-hopper slot M. A keeper '0, secured to diaphragm 12 in position about opposite to the heel of the pawl H, constitutes therewith a contracted throat to delay and retain temporarily the passing coin until the same is thrustdownward by positive action of the trip K. The trip K is a radius-arm extending from the axle Z, this latter passing through and being journaled in the front and back plates and the intermediate diaphragm 12. A crank m, affixed to axle Z. at the front, serves to turn the same,

and with it the trip K, until the latter in describing its radial path encounters the edge of coin q, when the same is held between the pawl H and the keeper 1;. The further ad- Vance of trip K thrusts the coin downward past the contracted throat, the heel of pawl H yielding slightly against the pressure of the coin and of the pawl-spring 23, thus turning the pawl about its pivot 19 and bringing the head thereof in position to encounter the notched end of trip K. The pawl and trip being dogged together, the further movement of the trip not only causes the release of the coin, so that it may pass by chute 31 into the money-box in the base of the holder, but also serves through the pawl H to turn bolt-levers F F about their pivots 14 17, depressing their inner and raising their outer ends until the tips 6 7 are free from the notches 5 in the cover D. The cover can then be shifted to open the receptacle, expos ing the glasses for use. A stop suitably located on the front plate engages the crank m to arrest its movement at such time as the trip K has completed its work in actuating the bolt-levers F F to free the slide D. A fly-back spring L, affixed at its ends to the diaphragm 12 and to the aXle Z, respectively, and'wound in helical coil about the latter, serves to restore the trip K and crank m to normal position when the operator releases his hand from the crank. Springs 15, W, and 23 restore the levers F F and pawl H also, so that cover D may be snapped to in manner of a spring-lock movement, closing the holder until such time as another coin is inserted in hopper-slot M. The dimensions of this slot determine the character of coin to be admitted, and a guide, as at t, affixed to plate 12, acts in conjunction with pawl H to position the coin in its descent, so that it will drop snugly between the heel of the pawl and the keeper 0.

It will be noticed that the coin itself does not directly release the lock-levers F F, but

serves instead to shift the pawl H into dogging engagement with the trip K, and that it is the positive action of such trip against the pawl H which determines the movement of levers F F in opening the holder, the coin meanwhile dropping clear and free into its chute 31. So also the trip K is in nowise a coin-carrier, since in usual position the trip is located back of the delivery-spout opening, and the coin drops clear until arrested by the throat formed at v H. The trip merely thrusts the coin downward, and neither receives nor delivers it.

Obviously but one lever-bolt F need be employed, and the details of this again may be varied without essential departure of invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by 'Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with the receptacle to contain the article to be let or vended, and with the movable cover therefor, of the leverbolt to lock said cover, the pivot pawl or dog mounted upon said bolt and having a projecting heel, the keeper set opposite said heel I and coacting therewith to temporarily retain the coin, and the movable trip contacting with the coin to push the same beyond the keeper and pawl-heel, and engaging with the pawl to shift the lever-bolt, substantially as described.

2. In coin-controlled apparatus, the combination, with the shifting lock-bolt, and with the pivoted pawl or dog mounted thereon, and having a projecting heel, of the casing to sustain said lock-bolt, and having an inletslot therein to admit and deliver the coin against said pawl-heel, and a movable trip contacting with said coin torelease the same from said heel and thereafter engaging the pawl to move the lock-bolt, substantially as described.

3. In coin-controlled apparatus, the combination, with the shifting lock-bolt, and with the dog or pawl carried thereby, and having a projecting heel, of the casing to sustain said lock-bolt, and provided with an inlet-slot to admit and deposit the coin, and a movable trip bearing against said coin to force it beyond the dog-heel, the thrust of the coin in its passage causing the dog to shift, whereby said trip encounters the dog and actuates the lock-bolt, substantially as described.

JOSEPH E. NEISWVANGER.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. PEIROE, GEORGE P. FISHER, Jr. 

